Has anybody ever diverted some of the cold air output from the airconditioner to cool the intake downtube on a cold air intake system?

I just figure that if you wrapped the cold air intake tube with thin-walled, metal tubing, starting at the end closest to the engine and wrapping it all the way to the air filter (like wrapping handlebar tape on a bicycle) and then diverted some cold air from the AC output that it might have a positive effect on heat soak.

I know this may sound crazy, but it just came to me in my sleep. At times when you need the AC, likely heat soak would also be an issue. So.... remembering basic physics from highschool science, I woke up with this idea at 6 am.

Curious.

 

Interesting idea...doesnt the AC create condensation though so you'd be putting moist air into the engine? I'd assume someone wouldve thought of it by now if it could be done, but who knows....maybe you came up with the worlds greatest invention (besides the s2000)

 

I think any gain in power would be offset by the power loss to the AC

 

FYI - Ford did this in their new F-150 Lightning concept car (based on the new F-150's that are out now). It was a couple of years ago, I believe. What they did was really neat, and they patented it. Since the Lightning is equipped with a supercharger and intercooler, they went through that. What happened was the AC filled some sort of cold air reservoir, and there was a light on the dash that shows when the thing is fully "charged" with cold air. When it's ready, you hit a button and all that cold air is shoved through the intercooler into the engine. Ford claimed an increase of 50hp for about 45 seconds, I believe, on each charge. Very believeable for an engine of that size. Think of it as unlimited, non-explosive nitrous oxide. Very, very cool idea, IMO. We'll see if it comes to production.

 

Patent Pending?

 

But on the same kind of idea. I saw an add in some car mag, for a cold air intake, that has a dry ice box on the top part of the intake. The box was created around the outside of the intake pipe and it had a door you could open and fill with dry ice. Claimed to drop intake air temp considerably.

Could be legit, most likely not all its cracked up to be, all i know is i wouldnt want to be the guinee pig and try it first.

 

I figure if I have the AC on anyway, I could run it over the outside of the cold air intake tube and then back out to the air vents.

Yes; that would cause condensation to form as the hot air is cooled, but perhaps this could be filtered out somehow.

I had a budy, 25 years ago, that used the dry ice box on his street / drag car when we were both in high school. The idea has been around forever; but I had not heard of anyone setting it up such that they could use the AC to do it whenever they wanted.

Another idea, would be just to direct some of the already cold, dry air from the AC directly into the engine, but that would mean reducing the efficiency of the AC to my toes.

Anyway, its just an idea that percolated until I was awake this morning.

Do you think some of the gear heads in the "Under the hood forum" might have some insight?

(I am new here and don't now how to link a string over to another forum)

 

Or, you could just take your intake filter off... put it in a plastic bag to avoid moisture and stick in the freezer for awhile. Might not be "on the go" but still works the same.